Loop or keeper for straps



No. s|9,54. Patented Feb. 14,1899.

A. ulesou.`

LOOP 0R KEEPER FOB STRAPS.

(Application led Apr. 1, 1898.)

(No Model.)

I 1n: wams ruins co. Pam-ammo.. wnsnmmon. uc.

, UNTTED STATES AMOS BURSON, OF NEGLEY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOJOSEPH W. THOMPSON, OF SALEM, OHIO.

PATENT OEETCE.

LOOP OR KEEPER FOR STRAPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,540, dated February14, 1899.

Application filed April l; 1898. Serial No. 676,068. (No model.)

To all whom, it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, AMOs BURSON, aoitizen of the United States, and aresident of Negley, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Loops or Keepers forStraps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to loops or keepers for straps, and has specialreference to such loops as are used in connection with buckles onharness, bridles, and other articles of like nature.

The object of my invention is to strengthen the keeper or loop frombeing torn loose from its fastenings, as well as to prevent the samefrom becoming collapsed or distorted when not in use.

My invention consists, generally stated, in the novel construction,combination, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter speciiically setforth and described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains toconstruct and use the same, I will describe the same more fully,referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is aperspective view of a buckled strap, showing my invention applied to theloop or keeper thereof. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same, showingthe positions of the fastening-rivets. Fig. 3 is a side view of thesame, showing some of the parts in section. Fig. 4 is a plan view of abuckled strap having a long loop or keeper and showing my inventionapplied thereto in different forms and designs. Fig. 5 is a longitudinalcentral section thereof, showing some of the parts in full lines. Fig. 6is a plan View of the strengthching-band before bending, and Fig. 7 is aperspective view of the strengthening-band in its finished form ready tobe applied for use.

Like. letters herein indicate like parts in each of the figures of thedrawings.

In the several figures of the drawings my invention is illustrated asapplied to leatherharness buckled straps A, which are generally formedas shown, and consists of a body or main strap d, having its end bturned under to form the bearing c for the reception of the metallicbuckle d, which is journaled `leather loop or keeper' vl.

therein. The free or connecting strap e is secured to the main strap aby means of rivets f, which pass through the rigid end e' of theconnecting-strap c, and the end b of the main strap a is secured to therigid end e of connecting-strap e and main strap a by means of rivets g,passing through the same. The free end c2 of the connecting-strap e isprovided with the perforations or holes h therein,which are adapted toengage with the pin d of the metallic buckle dwhen the connecting-strapc is secured to the buckle d. Secured adjacent to the bearing c, betweenthe main strap a and its turned end b, is the loop or keeper t', whichis generally formed of leather 'i' or other suitable flexible materialand is adapted to hold within the same the free end e2 of theconnecting-strap e. Fitting around the exterior surface of leather loopor keeper t" is the metallic strengthening-band j, which is formed froma single piece of metal bent to shape and applied to the strap a, ashereinafter described.

The manner of constructing my improved metallic strengthening-band j andapplying it to the leather loop QI and strap A is as follows: The band jis formed from the blank le, (shown in Fig. 6,) which is cut intosuitable lengths from a single piece of metal and has the ribs Zformedin the center thereof and the holes m formed at one end thereof, all ofwhich can be accomplished at one operation. The blank/k thus formed canthen be bent by any suitable means to the shape shown in Fig. 7, so asto form the bottom n, composed of the overlapping ends n' n2, sides o,top p, having the ribs l raised above the same, and the holes m ineither one of the overlapping ends n n', as described. The overlappingends n n' are secured to each other by soldering, as shown at q in Fig.7, and the band j is ready for the The loop or keeper il is forced intothe 'bandj so formed by suitable means, and the keeper i is preferablyso fitted to shape as to require considerable pressure to force it toits place within the band j. After the leather keeper or loop t" is inplace within the band j and forming the finished loop t' a woodenloop-stick, as it is termed, may be forced into the loop so as to forceand compact it against the band j, which will IOO be of suicientstrength by soldering as to permit the desired amount of suchcompression. If desired, the loop 7l when formed of leather can, beforeinsertion into the band j, be put into hot Water and after beinginserted into the band j and formed to shape by the loopstick it willbecome harder and retain its shape when dried, and the same result canalso be obtained by using a metal loop-stick heated to the propertemperature. The loop c' being thus completed, it is secured in positionWithin the strap A by inserting the same around the main strap a betweenthe turned end b and strap a and adjacent to the bearing c before theconnecting-strap e is secured to the strap a and end l) by the rivets fand g. After the loop z' is in position Within the strap A it is securedin place by rivets fr, which are inserted by means of a riveting-machineespecially adapted for securing such rivets r to the inside of the loopz', after which the straps a and e and turned end b can be secured bythe rivets f and g. The rivets r pass through the holes m in theoverlapping ends n and through the metal or body of the otheroverlapping end n2, forming the bottom n of the band j, as Well asthrough the material of the loop i', as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. It isevident that the rivets r must pass through the metal of the band j,Where the ends n n2 overlap, as Well as through the material composingthe loop i', consequently presenting two thicknesses to be rivetedthrough, and although the rivets used all penetrate tWo thicknesses of.metal of sufficient thickness for the purpose, it is preferable to avoidsuch labor by perforating one of the overlappin g ends n with theopenings or holes m, which are made somewhat larger than the rivets r,as shown in Figs. 3, 6, and 7. The rivets r being located toapproximately correspond with the perforations or holes m may be securedin place Without having to force them through more than one thickness ofmetal by the above construction.

lt will thus be seen that my improved loop or keeper for straps is cheapand simple in its construction and can be easily and rapidly made. Itcan be applied to the ordinary straploop with but little cost and laborand will strengthen the loop, so as to prevent it from becoming looseand distorted or collapsed when not in use. The use of the band affordsopportunity for ornamentation by means of electroplating with anydesired metal or by stamping or embossing it with any desired design inrelief or otherwise or giving to it any desired ornamental contour.

Various modifications in the construction and design of the variousparts of the device may be resorted to Without departing from the spiritof the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages. y

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The combination with a strap, a loop or keeper for confining thestrap, and a thin metallic sheet-band surrounding exterior of said loopor keeper and adapted to be secured to the strap and loop, substantiallyas and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination with a strap, a loop or keeper for confining thestrap, and a thin me tallic sheet-band surrounding exterior of said loopor keeper having overlapping ends to form a base adapted to be securedto said strap and loop or keeper, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Pittsburg, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, this 29th day of March,A. D. 1898.

AMOS BURSON.

Witnesses:

J. N. COOKE, G. K. WRIGHT.

